Expert: Jim Lawniczak - 8/17/2007

Question
What should be used to clean these steel pennies?

Answer
Ruth, unless you have great experience, the answer is that you should never clean or mark any coin.  It is almost impossible that you can improve the condition or the value of a coin by doing so; and almost certain that you will cause a decrease in condition and in value, sometimes substantially.  Most anything you do to "clean" a coin will be noticeable; and experts will be looking at your coin carefully and with magnification.  Anything that rubs on the coin will be noticeable.  Most chemicals will leave an effect on the coin, usually an artificial color.  The above advice is particularly if your coin  is "uncirculated."  Please leave any cleaning to the experts.  Hope this helps, Jim Lawniczak